Combined bar support and spacer



April 13, 1948. B. HILLBERG COMBINED BAR SUPPORT AND SPACER i B. HILLBERG COMBINED BAR SUPPORT AND SPACER April 13, `1948.

Filed May '16, 1945 2 sneetsneet 2 MYI Patented pr. 13, 1948 emr-En stares or Bron-Hillberg';; Chicago, Ill= assignontotsuperiorf Concrete.y Accessorea. Chicago` Ill., aQ-paxrtnen zontal:I dowelcbans: having thecentral portions thereoff` extending;v through:- the .l strip f andi4 their endsdisposed. irrtheislabsf. serves-tm support the joint' in .connection -with pouring;` ofi the-concrete fon'the slabs andralso'toreenforcefthe slabs after lnirdening--or"setting` of.' the fconcretef and: -as l, its parts comprises l a` rectilinear:v series= -ot laterally spaced, l Urshaped: chairs. atone. side of theV strip corresponding: Vin number. to,-. and.` associated. respeotively With,the ,doWeLbarsfof the joint. and

having.v the .upper` ends thereof shapedll to, form open top.l pockets, for the. adiacent. ends-of(` the dowel bars, a corresponding, rectilinean series. of laterally spaced"Ufslapedchairsat' the other side of-'Zthe ,striplavingftheupper ends. thereofishaped toform open toppoclet'slforthe adjacentends of the Idowel bars, and crossrodsextending under the compressible strip'. andib'etween tlie two series orchairs.

@ne object oi'the; imfentfon is to provide a combined""bar` support andspacer of this typeA which' isb an improvement' upon, arrd has certain advantagesr4 over; previously' designed? combined barrsupportsandispaoersandiischaracterizedby the fact-thai?" it* effectively* andeieientIy'iulills itsintendedipurpose` andi'may be installed?with f facility andv manufaetured'rat" airfextremelylow cosii.

Anotlfier` obj ectf-offthe invention isftoprovide a oornbi'ned bar vsupportiand' spacerl off the type underrconsiderati'oninwliiclf tiefcrossrods cori respon'dfin numberto tliechairs or"l eachV series,

aolaims. (eierier the ends.- of :the crossrods;` are: bent? upwards and o have. the liottomr piecesiofthe. chairs connected thereto, and: ther upper: extremities on thef-upwardly bentfendsofxthecnossrods are locatedfat thm-bottom ofs'zthe opem top ponketsiatithezupper ende-of theechairsianclzservertmsuppont the dowel barsl oth'ejpint'iroms li'clow:r

Anothen object: lofi thefinvention isltofprovidera combinedtbanzsupportvandlspacer oifthe-:lastinenl tioned: characterrwhich comprises invadditionr: to

theftWo-series of; ohairsfandthe crossrodswafpair of horizontal spacer rodsiwhlchvare associatedfrespectiv-ely with, and extendtparallel? tc;the. two series:l offV chairs; serve:` toeholdfthe 1 crossrods-,f in

tract in. response, to.` changes;` or.v variations in temperature. fcompressible llertstriptg'qanda series oi parallel laterallyispacedzrelation and haveiportions thereof arrangedi soi` that `tlreyeeifitend` across; the?, chairs andfideiinef` theibottbms' of theVu open.: top: pockets.

AfAfur-tlier -obj ect? of the: invention isato;proyide combined bar: support-and spacer" of thel type and*` character under-s.' consideration .inA Whiomthe upper :extremities :of the upwardlyfbentxendsf of the crossrods are L-shaped in` orlzlerxthatA they are capable o-f supportingin parallelrelationrwith 'the' spreader "rodsvcomparativelyz thick; rodstfor aligning theV dowel'rods ofii thel roadway joint.`

Ai still f-irtlier object*d ofi-'the invention'. isn to provide-a Vcombined-Ibai-supportiandspacer which is= generally of`nr` newiand? limprovedf 1 construction and is characterized byfsimplicity:ofdesignnand quickl-mountingfoffthe aligningcbarsiandthedowel bars. l

@ther objects ofi the invention` andi the 1 Various advantagesand characteristics ofr"tlie-present combinedbarsupport and'spacer fwill be apparent from: aeconsiderat/ion of-l the-following detailed description:

Theri'riventionf consistsfin the several' novel features which*farefhereinater -setifortlr and are moreparticularlyl dehediby claims@ at' thea oonclusicrr 4'hereof- In" the drawings WliicliE accompany and? form apar1,of"thi's "specification" or disclosure andt in wliiel'r `like*numerals offreierence denote corre'- spondi'n'g :parts throughout tlieseveral' viewsz Figure 1 isa-perspectivelview showing-'tliecomi Figures '2, 3fand` 4""arel end, side and-'topviews respectively; of 'one`4 of the chairs `of-the combined bar support and* spacer.'V

'I'he combined"bansupport'A and spacer' which is "shown in' the drawings constitutesthe` preferred form;` or embodiment: of the invention. ItA is primarily' designedoradapted for' use irr connection with' a concrete?roawayj'jointJ and 'consists ci. a rectilinear seriesoflaterally spacedz crossrods 5;' a pair'ofaligningbars, a plurality4 of chairs. 1, andi ampair of spacery rods K;

i Thejbintlis adaptedfor disposition between a) pair of adiacent'-roadway forming concrete slabs S on asubgrade S1 and,` aswell understood in the. art, :permits .the slabs toexpandL and" con- Asitspart'sthe. joint-J embodies a laterally spacedhori'zontally extendingy dowel fba'SV-f The Stripisi formed of` composition located in the same horizontalplane andare coated with grease or graphite so that duringr pouring of the concrete forthe slabs the concrete will not adhere to them. The joint J also comprises in addition to the filler strip 7' and the dowel bars i1 a set of sheet metal sleeves i2. These to the end that when the combined bar support and spacer is in operative relation with the joint J the portions of the dowel bars 71 that are directly inwards of the portions that are supported by the aligning rods 6 rest on the upper ends oi the vertically extending upper parts II.

The chairs I are U-shaped as best shown in Figures 1 and '3 of thejdrawing's." "They are formed of stiff wire of'the same Iguage as the crossrods 5 and comprise substantially straight horizontally extending intermediate bottom pieces lyrand upstanding side pieces I4 and I5.

There are two chairs for each crossrod. As shown'in the drawings, the chairs are disposed or positioned directly outwards of the upwardly bent ends of thecrossrods 5. The central portions of the bottom pieces I3 of the chairs are sleeves are slidably mounted on the ends of the dowel bars that are at one side of the strip i and form air pockets outwards of such ends whereby 'sliding movement of the dowel bars is permitted in *responsev to expansion of the slabs. As the result ofthe grease Yor graphite which is applied tothe dowel bars the bars, after setting or hardening of thel slabs', are free to slide longitudinally and permit the slabs'to move toand from one another" as theresult of expansion and con- Vtraction thereof.

lThe combined bar support and spacer constitutes a unitfor holding the joint in place during pouring ofthe concrete in connection with formation vof the slabs S. It is adapted to become permanently bonded to the concrete after margin lof the compressible ller strip g' fit snugly. 45

Said stirrups are in alignment and holdthe compressible filler strip against -transverse bending or distortionin'connection with pouring of the concrete for the slabs S: .The ends of the crossrods 5 arerbentY upwards soy that they extend vertically. They-arelocated slightly inwards of the ends of the dowel bars gil` and have Il -shaped upper extremities consisting. of horizontally extending lower parts -I and vertically extending upper parts I I. The horizontally extending lower parts IB extend inwards in the direction of the compressible llerstrip i; and the vertically extending upper parts Il are connected to, and project upwards from, the inner ends of the lower parts I0, and dene withY the'lower parts open top seats I2for the aligning rods 6. .The latter, as shown in Figure 1, 4are disposedon opposite sides of, and extend `parallel to, the compressible filler strip y' and are ,arranged at right angles to the dowel-'bars i1. They are snugly `seated within the seatsY I2 and'underlie and directly support the ends of the dowel bars i1 of the joint J. The diameter of the aligning rods 6 is materially greater than that of the crossrods 5 in order that the aligning rods are rigid. 'I he purpose or function of the aligning Arods is to maintain the dowel bars in true horizontal alignment with one another. The height ,of the vertically extending up per parts I I of the VL-shaped upper extremities of the upwardly bent ends of the crossrods 5 corresponds to the diameter of the aligning rods 6' welded/to the upwardly bent ends of the crossrods' at points directlyV beneath the horizontally extending lower parts I Il. The side pieces I4 and I5 of the chairs are formed'integrally with the ends of the intermediate' bottom pieces I3. They extend upwards and inwards and dene atthe top Vportions thereof restricted entrance pockets I6 for the'ends of the dowel bars il. The upper extremities of the side pieces-I4 and I5 are Ybent outwards so as to form upwardly flared mouths leading toward the entrances of the pockets I6. The ends of the dowel bars are adapted to be inserted into the pockets by urging or shifting them downwards between the outwardly bent upper extremities of the side pieces and thence past the bends constituting the entrances to the pockets I6. By having the upper extremities of the side pieces bent outwards the, ends of the bars may be readily inserted into the pockets.v When the Vbars are in placein the pockets they are disposed slightly beneathzthe bends at thel upper ends of the side pieces and are held in place by such bends. 'I he distance between the bends at the upper ends of. the side pieces of the chairs is lessthan the diameter of thevdowel bars and hence when the dowelrbars are inserted into place they flex the side pieces I4 and I5 apart as they enterl dowel bars are shifted into the pockets to urge the dowel bars downwards into rm engagement with the upper ends .of the vertically extending upper parts II and the subjacent portions of the aligning rods 6; As shown in Figure 3, the bends at the upper endsof the side pieces ofthe chairs are disposed above'the upper ends ofthe vertically extending upper parts II. The central portions of the side pieces I4 andr|5 of the chairs dene the outer sides of 4the seats I2 rfor'the aligningrods 6.

The vspacer rods 8 are disposed on opposite sides of, and are positioned in parallel relation with, the compressible filler strip y' of the point J and serve Vto hold or maintain-the crossrods 5 in connected and' laterally spaced relation.

4They arefformedof stiiT wire of the same guage as the'crossrods 5 and the chairs 1 and are located ldi'rectly outwards of the chairs. As shown in the 'drawingsthe spacer rods 8 are positioned above' the bottom pieces I3 ofthe chairs and races-,442s

are arranged:` so lfthat @the topf :parts: rthereoflare inlthe same fplanelas-'the upperzendsvofztherupwardlyexterrdingzu per partsJhtotthelseshaped upper extremities'flof ftherupwardlylbent enclsof the crossrods. The;portionsTof?ltherspacenrods that cross =orfflapl .'the-'llowerhcentrf :portions @of the sideV pi'ecesv.'i4i ofthe-1chairsnarelweldedlitc the latter:portions.` l'liere' are lno-weldsg however, between the lspacciared s'Islandtloeside pieces 1F51 of the chairs iri :order tbat'suchwsidefpiecesareluper# "mitted toilex 'freelyftoian'difronr Reside pieces 14. vThe Iportions-of-"ithespacer olswthat :elle tend 'between thesideffpieces d o'flftte chairs form- Athe@bottoms :ol ith Vrestricted:NentranceffpocltetsflEliforntlef ensfofflthedowel -bars -y' of the ljoint 9J. `Wlren"-thef dowelbarsaare'in lplace ythe Vv'endsthereof resti-onitne-portions-l-of Ythe spacer rods F8; fthat are betweenffthe 'side `pieces fili-and ftfoftlie! chairs -aslwelllas on the subj acent `portions-b wfthe aligning rodsll andithe upper ends 1offthe `wertically extending `upper parts nIr'I `of thelL-shapedfupperextremities-of ythe upWardly=1bent1ends of#tlie-crossrodsf5. The spacer rods -servenot onlyjto maintain Vthe crossrods 5. `in connected*and*` laterally spaced `relation ibut valsotollmaintain-the crossrods -so that they extend at true-right angles rtof-the aligning rods 6L l When it is `desired-` to-use f-thewcombined-"ibar 'support and spacer-in--connection withthe -roadway joint J it is placed on the subgraele--s1gas shown -in Figure-11jJ andearranged-sorthatdt 4-extends transversely oit` the' yroadway, -Atter proper positioningor arranAgingI-of the lcornbined bar supportY and spacer-' -thejoint` al is lassembled by inserting :the dtml/eli'bars"'-1 vthrough the holes in the Ycentral'portion ofl-theffcompressible -1ll`er strip-11- Afte vinsertion of .the dowel `bars vthroughttieffllerf'strip#the `joint d is positioned over ther-combined barsupport and spacer and manipulated 'so-jas to 'cause-'the ller strip i` to` extend Aparallel-WtoAV thealigning rods H6 and the spacerlrods -fand'the dpwel bars 7'1`to .extend at right-i anglesftojsaidrods. {Th-ereafter the l joint "is shifted downwards sofas-.o bring thelower `margin-'Joffitlfrefistripy Yf iinto` 'seated relation with the sti-rrups j9 on-*the centralI portions of the -crossrod's' andfthe ends-ofthe dowel bars into :seated relation withl dthe `12cstricted entrancefpofckets |62 'The :errdsoof lthe dowel bars are bro'ugl'lt fintfseated relation with the pockets byJforcin-gthenrpast the-bends `at the upper portionsjorthe sideypieces I'Aand l5 of the chairs-1, as hereinbefore described. When the ends ofthe dowel'lbars arejin'. seated relation witlrthe pockets A`1':lr ed`owelbarsare maintained bythe combined bar support" and spacer in a truly` horizontal: positionl and", also at true right'angl'es' to `'the oompressbleffller strip y. spect to the combined bansupport and spacer concrete is poured at the sides ofthestlip j C0 form the roadway `slabs Upon setting or hardeningrof the .concrete the dowel bars form load transfer members as hereinbefore pointed out, and the-combined-fbarfsupport and spacer serves as a reenf'orcin'g rmedumf'onsthel slabs.

The herein described combined?Iza-rs1` support and spacer is essentiallyqsimplelln-fdesign and hence may be manufacturedat a low and reasonable cost. Iteiectively andellcientlypffill' 4illls its intended purpose andlis characterized .by the fact 'marit-isdn 'theform of arigirrnnir. t Whereas the combinedbargsup'port and spacer After assembly ofj'thejjoint; with ret rientra-nales tothe cr (the l portions thereof that, .extend t T6 has ;been=.ad'escrlbeduandlillustratedein connection 1with a..:roadway` joint.;illit" iszzto.v eitunderstood thatI itx-has tether@ capabilities .of i fuse. .-lItf-isral'so -claim tassrnew :andan desire. tof Lsecure by :Letters :1E-'atout is: v t

Tf1?. Inecombination withglparallel substantially 'fhorizoritalwbars,:a :combinedbar support :and

:spacer comprising-'sas plurality fofzparallel tsub- Astantia'llly :horizon-tal;-Wirenformed:crossrods .corresponding in` numberlto, .positioned respecftvely. ebeneatlrpand disposed fn; `parallel rela- 4tion with, `1 said fbarspf and having/the ends -theregoifltentf, upwards :andfarrang-ed I so that 'I their upper Ycritrealities .underlie and support :Ithe ends -on-the bars; 'separately forned vvl;l:slflaped, 'small size dg. iwirestfor'medf. chairs @having fthe central .portions :Qcdllrer fcnossfipiecesfweldedxftc .fcertan side 'portonsofz theizupwardly extending ends :of Vthecrossrods and the ;u .pertends` of` the :side pieces zthcreofishapedxto :form the sides 1of `open ftopY .restricted :entrance: variety# pockets for the rends, l oft the bars, :a: spacerrrcd';extending `at ssrods andlservlng to hold the: :latter against: )relative lateral displacelfl'enn` t l Y A 2: Incomblnationewith- (parallel: substantially ,horizontal bears,3 acombinada bar: eSupport. and. spacer comprising amlurla-lity off iparallel; sub :stantiallyl horizontal crcssrods: corresponding in knumber to, positioned Arespectively beneath, and disposed :in parallelfrelation with, said `bars and Ahaving; the ends thereof extending:upwards U- shapedl chairs extendingllat rightzangles 4to the crossrods andA having: the ,central portions of theirV -cross pieces fconnectedto vthe upwardly extending. 44ends` of saiilf'crossrods rand the upper 'the :sides :of openztop pools-ets'Lcr,` ltneaendsz-of :the .barsgfandhartpairaofi spacer rods positioned fata-right:angles1tofthemrossrods,` extending across fthe ,1sidef1pi'ecesoffthe chairs, Aconnected to cerm 4'tain-.offrsaid'usitle piecessof zthefcl'lairs, and hav- -ing the portions. theredfthat- :extend between the :chair-".:sde Ipieces:reunir-1g fbottoms for the :pockets Y 1 'lInz :combination with 2 parallel :substantially lliori-zentalibars5 'a :combined bar support and spacer Ycomprising#a` lpluralitycof parallel #substanti'allylhorizontalilcrossrods corresponding in nu1rlbertl);'and-jpositioned respectivelyr beneath, and dlsposedAinfparailel relation said bars andr-liaving-lfthe ends Athereof" exten-ding 'upwards and arrangedV -so` that Atheir upper extremities underlie and :support Atlre 4,ends o `the'1bars,"Ll shaped-chairsextending at. right angles to the crossrodsv and "having the central portions of 'their crosspiecesL-connected Vto the upwardly cxtendingy endsl oflsaid' crossrods` andthe .upper ends oftne Vsid-e pieces thereof` shaped ,to 4form the sides of open top pockets for the ends of the ,bars, and a pair of? spacer rods positioned .at right angles tothe cnossrods, extending across ythe side, pieces-of the rchairsl, connected .to ,ceru

.tainof said side pieces .o'f' the. ,chairs,and,haying *between `the chair side piecesposticinedftofor .bottoms `for jthepockets..

4;, In combination with. 4parallel substantially horizontal bars, a combined bar support and spacer comprisinga plurality of parallel substantially horizontal crossrods corresponding in number to, positioned respectively beneath, and disposed in parallel relation with, said bars and having the ends thereof extending upwards and provided with inwardlyv extending L-shaped upper extremities forming Vopen top seats, a pair 'of parallel laterally spaced bar. aligning rods extending at right angles to the crossrods, disposed in the said seats and arranged so that they underlie and support the ends of the bars, and chairs connected to the upwardly extending ends of the crossrods and having the upper ends thereof shaped to form the sides of open top pockets for the ends of the bars.

5. In combination with parallel substantially horizontal bars, a combined bar support and spacer comprising a plurality of parallel substantially horizontal crossrods corresponding in number to, positioned respectively beneath, and disposed in parallel relation with, said bars and hav ing the ends thereof extending upwards and provided with inwardly extending L-shaped upper vextremities forming open top seats, a pair of parallel laterally spaced bar aligning rods extend- Aing at right angles to the crossrods, disposed' in ysaid seats and arranged so that they underlie and lsupport the ends of the bars, chairs connected to the upwardly extending ends of the crossrods and having the upper ends thereof shaped to form the sides of open top pockets for the ends of the bars, and a spacer rod` extending at right angles and xedly connected to the crossrods.

6. In combination with parallel substantially horizontal bars, a combined bar support and spacer comprising a plurality of parallel substantially horizontal crossrods corresponding in number to, positioned respectively beneath,` and disposed in parallel relation with, said bars and having the ends thereof extending upwards and provided with inwardly extending L-shaped upper extremities forming open top seats, a pair of parallel laterally spaced bar aligning rods extending at right angles to the crossrods, disposed in said seats and arranged so that they underlie and support the ends of the bars, U-shaped chairs extending at right angles to the crossrods and having the central portions of their cross pieces connected to the upwardly extending ends of said crossrods and the upper ends of the side pieces thereof shaped to form the sides of open top pockets for said ends of the bars, and a pair of spacer rods positioned at right angles to the crossrods and connected xedly to the chairs.

7. In combination with parallel substantially horizontal bars, a combined bar support and spacer comprising a plurality of parallel substantially horizontal crossrods corresponding in nurnber to, positioned respectively beneath, and disposed in parallel relation with, said bars and having the ends thereof extending upwards and provided with inwardly extending L-shaped upper extremities forming open top seats, a pair of parj allel laterally spaced bar aligning rods extending at right angles to the crossrods, disposed in said seats and arranged so that they` underlie and support the ends of the bars, U-shaped chairs extending at right angles to the crossrods and having the central portions of their cross pieces connected to the upwardly extending ends of said crossrods and the upper ends of the side pieces thereof shaped to form the sides of open top restricted entrance pockets for said ends of the bars, and a pair of spacer rods positioned at right angles to the crossrods, extending across the side pieces of the chairs, connected to certain of said side pieces of the chairs, and having theportions thereof extending between the chair side pieces forming bottoms for the pockets and arranged so that the top parts thereof are in the same plane as the top parts ofthe aligning rods.

8. In combination with parallel substantially horizontal bars, a combined bar support and spacer comprising a plurality ofKparallel substantially horizontal crossrods corresponding in number to, positionedrespectively beneath,and disposed in parallel relation with, said bars, and having the upper ends thereof extending upwards and provided at their upper extremities with inwardly extending horizontal lower parts and vertically extending upper parts forming with the lower parts open top sides and arranged so that the upper ends thereof` underlie and support the ends of the bars, a pair of parallel laterally spaced bar aligning rods extending at right angles to the crossrods, seated in said seats and having the top parts thereof in the same plane as the upper ends of said upwardly extending upper parts and arranged to underlie and support said ends of the bars, chairs connected to the upwardly extending ends of the crossrods and having the upper ends thereof shaped to form the sides of open top pockets for the ends of the bars, and a spacer rod extending at right angles and connected to the crossrods.

9. In combination with parallel substantially horizontal bars, a, combined bar support and spacer comprising a plurality of parallel substantially horizontal crossrods corresponding in number to, positioned respectively beneath, and disposed in parallel relation with, said bars, and having the upper ends thereof extending upwards and provided at their upper extremities with inwardly extending horizontal lower parts'and vertically extending upper parts forming with the lower parts open top sides and arranged so that the upper4 ends thereof underlie and support the ends of the bars, a pair of parallel laterally spaced bar aligning rods extending at right angles to the crossrods, seated in said seats and having the top parts thereof in the same plane as the upper ends of said upwardly extending upper parts and arranged to underlie and support said ends of the bars, U-shaped chairs extending at right angles to the crossrods and having the central portions of their cross pieces connected to the `upwardly extending ends of said crossrods and the upper ends of the side pieces thereof shaped to form the sides ofy open top restricted entrance pockets for said ends of the bars, and a pair of REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,133,553 Lord Oct. 18, 1938 2,273,197 I-Iillberg Feb. 17, 1942 2,278,917 Curry Apr. 7, 1942 2,291,157 Hillberg July 28, 1942 

